Searle brothers, Binney part of Raider hall class

ASHLAND — Two teams, three individuals and a trio of football playing brothers will join the Southern Oregon University Sports Hall of Fame at the 2013 induction ceremony during the weekend of Oct. 5.

ASHLAND — Two teams, three individuals and a trio of football playing brothers will join the Southern Oregon University Sports Hall of Fame at the 2013 induction ceremony during the weekend of Oct. 5.

Former volleyball player Kristina Matchett, former baseball player and softball coach Larry Binney, former football players Nick Daniken and brothers David, Sammy and Ted "Baba" Searle join the 1993-94 wrestling team and the 1996-97 women's basketball team to comprise the 2013 Hall of Fame class.

Matchett starred on the volleyball court from 2000-03, establishing herself as one of the most dominant players in program history while leading the team to three national tournament berths.

Matchett's 2,291 career kills nearly double the career tally of SOU's second-leading hitter. She is the only player in program history to surpass 500 kills in a season, accomplishing the feat three times while establishing a record 669 kills in 2001.

As the most dominant hitter in SOU volleyball history, Matchett was also the Raiders' first three-time NAIA All-American and two-time Cascade Collegiate Conference Player of the Year. She was named Oregon Small College Athlete of the Year and NAIA Regional Player of the Year in 2003.

Binney was a baseball star for SOU in the late 1960s before a lengthy coaching career brought him back to helm the Raider softball program during its most successful three-year stretch in history.

Binney was a four-year starter at first base and in the outfield, earning all-conference and all-region honors in 1968 and '69 before serving as a varsity assistant and junior varsity coach in 1970. He was one of the top hitters on the SOU team, batting .365 in 1968.

Thirty-five years later, Binney took over the SOU softball program and promptly led the team to back-to-back CCC championships and the only three 30-win seasons in team history. His 2004 team finished the year with a 40-12 overall record (20-5 in conference play) and advanced to the NAIA Western Regional.

Nick Daniken was a two-time NAIA All-American defensive back for the SOU football program, but his greatest impact on the gridiron likely came as a kickoff and punt returner. As a four-year defensive starter, Daniken graduated as the SOU career leader in kickoff returns (59), punt returns (67) and punt return yards (854). He set regional records for career kickoff return average (29.1) and touchdowns (five).

During his four-year career, SOU won 29 games and qualified for back-to-back appearances in the NAIA postseason for the first time.

The three Searle brothers have compelling Hall of Fame cases individually, and as a trio they comprised one of the best combination of brothers to ever compete for Southern Oregon.

From 1986-89, Sammy and Ted were two of the Raiders' best defensive players. Ted was named Columbia Football Association Player of the Year and earned NAIA All-America honors in 1989 after totaling 130 tackles. He finished his SOU career with 346 tackles, the second-most in program history.

Both Sammy and Ted earned all-conference honors in 1988. When the Raiders advanced to the NAIA Championship Series for the first time in 1987, a Sammy Searle interception clinched the first-round win over Central Washington. Sammy finished his career with 18 interceptions to rank third in team history.

Quarterback David joined the team in 1989 and over the next three years climbed into the team's top five in virtually every passing and total offense category. He earned back-to-back all-conference honors and became the first SOU quarterback to throw for more than 500 yards in a game, graduating as the season record holder in passing yards, touchdowns and total offense.

The 1993-94 wrestling team will celebrate its 20th anniversary this winter as the squad claimed the third NAIA National Championship in program history during legendary coach Bob Riehm's final year at the helm. The Raiders claimed the NAIA District II Tournament title before sharing the national title with Western Montana.

Matt McDowell led the way for the 1994 team, claiming his second consecutive national title at 150 pounds. Kacey McNulty finished as the 142-pound national runner-up, while Dan Potts placed second at 177 for the second straight year.

The 1996-97 women's basketball team qualified for the NAIA Division II National Tournament for the first time in program history, sparking a three-year run of national tournament appearances. The 1996-97 Raiders were the first to win 25 games and vaulted all the way to a school-best No. 4 ranking midway through the season after beginning the year unranked.

Southern Oregon finished the year with an 11-0 home record, including a victory over eventual national champion Northwest Nazarene, and earned an at-large bid to the national tournament with the No. 7 ranking.

The Raiders made it to the national semifinals before missing a pair of potential game-winning shots in the final 10 seconds and losing to Black Hills State, 80-79. It's the only Raider team to make the NAIA Final Four.

Three-time NAIA All-American Melissa Bogh led the way, becoming the program's all-time leading scorer and the Cascade Collegiate Conference's first four-time all-conference honoree. She was also player of the year.

Michelle Westerberg was all-conference and head coach Shirley Huyett was named CCC and NAIA District II Coach of the Year.